Racing Outlook
February 16, 2007Updates on the upcoming events...
- Feb 16 Minnesota State Meet (Biwabik, MN)
- Feb 15 update:
The start times for the State Meet have been pushed back one hour over concerns about the windchill. Times are now: 11 am boys freestyle, noon girls freestyle, 2:30 pm boys classical pursuit, 3:30 pm girls classic pursuit.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 12 update:
Details on the State Meet from the MSHSL web site.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 11 update:
As of Monday, the temperatures are looking warm enough to not cause any delays or postponements. Stay tuned to the weather forecasts. The race information for the Charlie Banks Relay (Thursday) has been posted.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 17 Minnesota Finlandia (Bemidji, MN)
- Feb 15 update:
Rooms arenow available at BSU. $17 for single, up to $25 for room with fridge and tv. 218-755-3246 for info and pricing.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 14 update:
The Minn Finn organizers have been working hard to add additional cover in thin areas. This is what we know today:
* The problem in the logging area which has been causing so much grief has been buried. Clean snow has been harvested from a near by lake and blanketed the section. See photos in the Buena Vista trail reports.
* The course has been determined and measured. The course will be a 12K loop plus 1K to the finish line, 25k folks will do 2 laps, 50k's 4 laps both with a short 2k on the lake (perfect rest for the lung burning hills).
* A classic track will be set, officials have determined that a track can be set however it may be thin in some areas. The majority of track will be ok to good. (hopefully have pictures tomorrow). Temps tonight are still way below freezing (-20F) making it difficult to set track.
* It is supposed to warm by the weekend with a chance of flurries Friday and Saturday.
* Still waiting for a block of rooms to open up at BSU. We will post info on www.minnesotafinlandia.com the moment info is available.
See you all Friday night.
- Mike Huerbin, race director - Feb 13 update:
The Minnesota Finlandia is a go. Race officials will be moving snow Wednesday & Thursday to patch up the few remaining problem areas and the logging area will be a non-issue after Wednesday. A possible lake portion (2K to 3K) may be added to avoid multiple laps on the west side. Classic track setting will be tested tomorrow, stay tuned for more details. All five events are still planned, 50K North Country Health Services Minnesota Finlandia, 25K Buena Vista Classic, 25K Homeplace Bemidjithon, 25K Earl Dickenson Memorial Continuous Pursuit and the 1st National bank Northwood's tour. Initial reports from skiers is the course is in surprisingly good conditions at this point. Hotel rooms are limited however a large block of accommodations will open up tomorrow, check www.minnesotafinlandia.com for more details.
- Mike Huerbin, race director - Feb 12 update:
Minn Finn has released a more detailed outlook for the race this weekend. The race is definitely on, so start making your plans. At this time, it looks like most of the race will be on the west side of Buena Vista. Read the full press release.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 10 update:
The Minnesota Finlandia is in high gear and still a go for next weekend. Snow is being moved in and work is being done to cover a thin areas on the west side. The cold has prevented any loss of snow and the small flurries in the past two weeks has helped. Registration starts Friday night, 4:30 at Keg N Cork, downtown Bemidji. Races start at 9:30am on Saturday Feb 17th. Sundays family fun day activities start at 11:00am.
- Mike Huerbin, race director - Feb 17 Book Across the Bay (Ashland, WI)
- Feb 12 update:
All systems are go for Book Across the Bay this year--as of this weekend we have about 750 preregistered entries. We added a snowshoe option a few years ago and that gets more popular every year. Recent cold weather has given us the ice we need on Chequamegon Bay, where ice thicknesses range from about 24 to 30 inches. Snow cover is thin, however. Across most of the bay, there are several inches of snow on the ice, but there are some windblown clear areas. When we set the final course and start grooming later this week, we will plow snow from elsewhere on the bay onto the course as necessary. Conditions likely will be hard-packed and fast. A week out, the weather forecast for race day, Feb. 17, is saying highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low teens.
- Laurence Wiland, race director - Feb 17 Erik Judeen Classic (Duluth, MN)
- Feb 11 update:
Conditions: Worse than bad. Zero to one to two inches of snow depending where you measure with no snow in the 10 day forecast. The Erik Judeen ski race scheduled for February 18th is cancelled. This is the fourth time in the past seven years we have had to cancel due to lack of snow. This is also the worst year for snowfall in the past 25 years that I have been involved with the Charlie Banks ski trails.
- Mark Helmer, race organization - Feb 17 Snowflake/Inga-lami Races (Maple Plain, MN)
- Feb 16 update:
I just finished skiing Baker on my best race skis- its still excellent- just a few dirty places on the island trail. Best skiing we will probably have given the warm predictions next week.
- Jan Guenther, race organization - Feb 13 update:
Just an reminder -- The Snowflake/Inga-lami races are at Baker, not Elm Creek, this year. The snow is good and they will be using a full 10K loop (no laps). Great to be citizen racing at Baker after a long hiatus!
-Bruce Adelsman - Feb 8 update:
We are really getting excited for the Snowflake and Inga-lami. Baker is in beautiful shape for classic and skating! It will be fun to race a different course this year. We have great giveaways as always, and a very festive atmosphere. hope to see you next saturday at Baker.
- Lynne Cecil-Johnson, race organization - Feb 17 Sawtooth (Grand Marias, MN)
- Febb 16 update:
Both classic and skate race courses for Saturday's races are in very good to excellent condition following Wednesday's grooming by the Pisten Bully. The tracks set up deep and firm and all debris was eliminated from those trails. The skate course is in immaculate shape. Shoveler's will cover up the stadium area's icy patches. Light snow is now falling and is forecasted to continue Saturday as well. Temps are expected to be in the teens.
- Dave Bartol, race organization - Feb 12 update:
The Rescheduled Sawtooth International Ski Races are scheduled for Saturday, February 17, 2007 as of Monday, February 12th. The adult races will be held on the Pincushion Trails in the original format: 5K and 10K classic, and 20K skiathlon (10K classic and 10K freestyle).
We are adding Youth Races to the Sawtooth this year, after the adult races. All kids 13 and under are invited to participate, regardless of skiing experience or ability level. Kids will be in two year age groups and ski separate distances, starting with 100m for 5 & under, up to 2.5km for 12 & 13.
- Dave Bartol, race organization - Feb 17 Big Bay Honey Bear Classic (Big Bay, MI)
- Feb 14 update:
The course is in great shape! Lots of snow, 12-18" of snow on the groomed trail, 18-24" in the woods. The race has many pre-registered racers and we are anticipating some big name skiers to be coming such as Mike Meyers. This is the first year we are doing a mass start at Bay Cliff, which is going to be great!
- Susan Brian, race organization
- Feb 17 Rib Lake HinderBinder (Rib Lake, WI)
- Feb 13 update:
Ski conditions very good. If you plan on bringing a team allow 15 extra minutes for Team portraits prior to the start. The weather should be perfect. The racing starts at 10:00A.M. We also have a 10 KM immediately after at Camp Forest Springs at 2:00 P.M. and a bonfire starting at 6:00P.M. at the highway C Parking lot.
- Scott Bromann, race organization - Feb 12 update:
The races are still looking like a great event. 22 km classic and 22km freestyle races start at 10am and 10:15 am. The highschool racers are off on an 8km race at 10:20 followed by the 5-8th grade racers at 10:25 for a 3.5 km course. There is good snow, well packed and the classic tracks are in very good shape except for the initial 200 yards under the pine trees.
- Cathy Temme, race organization - Feb 17 Stump Farm Race (Green Bay, WI)
- Feb 14 update:
For the first time in anyone's memory, the Stump Farm has been canceled due to lack of snow. It was hoped that the lake effect snow that hit the east shore of Lake Michigan today would sneak north a bit had drop a couple of inches of snow, but we were disappointed. There is snow to ski on but it is not enough to put on the kind of quality event people have come to expect. Look for the Stump Farm to come back next year.
- Philip Nelson, race organization - Feb 8 update:
The Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team is evaluating venues for the Stump Farm race. Snow would help! Please Check back Monday or Tuesday for final word. Updated information will be available at our web site and announced to SkinnySki.com.
- Todd Pliner, race director - Feb 24 American Birkebeiner (Hayward, WI)
- Feb 16 update:
Chris Young of New Moon filed a fairly extensive report and photoset focusing on some of the thinner areas on the southern half of the Birkie trail. View the full report, along with other skier updates, on our Birkie Trail report page. That page also contains a direct link to the Birkie's official trail report.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 12 update 2:
Executive Director, Ned Zuelsdorff, has sent in a Birkie course update. They are planning to haul in and shovel snow over any thin areas along the course. They believe they will be able to run a full race and have classic tracks. Read Ned's full update. - Feb 12 update:
We've had reports from skiers over the weekend that indicate the southern half of the trail is fairly thin and may not suited for racing at this time. However, we have no official word from the Birkie on any trail updates or course changes. Still plenty of time for more snow to fall!
Citizen sprints have been restored. Proceeds will benefit Parkinson's disease research. Read the full details.
- Bruce Adelsman